July 2024
Colombo Sri Lanka!
Back in Sri Lanka during their off-season, their so-called rainy season. It was not rainy everywhere and it was well worth the three-weeks away! We did a loop around the south, mostly going to reservoirs where we applied an assessment protocol and counted birds. Zipping around and meeting people...it was work!
Part of my stay was with a voluteer research initiative between HCMR and the University of Ruhuna; the rest was a wonderful homestay at a resort complex in the southern provence.
Some notes on why you should consider visiting Sri Lanka....
-The country is still absolutly authentic; nearly everything still is. Tourism is still low-key and does not destroy the vibe although this unfortunately is changing. So go now before its too late.
-Wildlife watching is good in Sri Lanka. You really see a lot even outside protected areas. Things are very photograph-able...
-Birding is not easy in the jungle (find a good guide if you want to see all the endemics; we missed many....), otherwise 'slow birding' on your own is fine.
- Find the elephants! Wild ones.
Some LIKES etc!
- Best Herp (i.e. herpetological) find: Salt-water crocs (salties!) in the Pulwatta river, Weligama.
- Next-best Herp: The monitors, they are everywhere. Cuter than any puppy dog....
- Best bird: Changeable Hawk Eagle (photo below...).
- Second best bird: Malabar Hornbill.
- Stupidest bird ID error - flagged on Ebird: Sirka imm. (photo below), we thought was Basra.
- Nemesis Bird not found: Sri Lanka Bush Warbler (one of many excuses to go back...).
- Best Mammal: Asian Elephant - hand's down. Better than leopard any day.
- Best Elephant: A bull, a really old tusker - behind electric fence of the Udawalawe (see photo).
- Best other animals: Fishes in streams in Kithulgala! Also in Udawalawe river!!!
- My 'spirit animal': Asian Water Buffallo (one of SL two native species- see photos below).
- Most wonderful landscape: Impossible to say! Sooo many scenic landscapes....
- Best wild plant: Ceylon Rhododendron, perfect bright pink-red flowers at Horton Plains N.P.
- Best walk (or hike): 9 km loop-walk at Horton Plains National Park.
- Best spirtual moment: Poya (moon-day) at Buddhist shrine near Malabar Hill, Weligama.
- Alternative reason to visit Sri Lanka: the food!
- Even more alternative reason to visit Sri Lanka: Talking with the locals (smiles, laughter).
- Most beautiful human-made element in Sri Lanka: Happy children.
- Best shopping: An outlet with "Moose" brand clothes at Tissa; also Tropical Linen in Colombo.
- Best shopping experience vibe: Barefoot, Colombo.
- Best urban environment: Galle, nothing like it anywhere in the world.
- Erroneous shortfall: Not walking out in the jungle at night with a flashlight (night safari).
- Worst weather: Nuwara Eliya -cold and rain (also shockingly difficult to find birds there).
- Biggest tourism-generated landscape degradation: Mirissa Beach (but still beautiful).
- Saddest realization: Large-scale urban sprawl and agricultural changes in the south coast.
- Missed opportunity: No mask & snorkel for fishwatching in clear-water streams at Kithulgala.
- Biggest fright: Knowing I was swimming in estuary waters (Matara) where Salties live.
- Scariest momment: None. It's one of the safest countries in the world.
- Thing I didn't expect: How interesting and wonderful Colombo is. Well worth some time.
- Worst beast bite: Leaches at Kithulgala. We didn't disinfect, the wounds got infected. Careful!
- Weirdest habitat enhancement: Concrete ponds, Galway's Land National Park (photo below).
- Most disappointing National Park: Galway's Land National Park (something's wrong, no birds!)
- Favorite Protected Area: Udawalawe National Park.
- Worst ever tourism experience: Traffic jam in Yala National Park (and not seeing the leopard).
- Arty-culty experience not to be missed: Walking through open-air fruit markets.
- Favorite hotel: Kalus Hideaway, Udawalawe.
- Favorite resort area: Malarbar Hill Sri Lanka, Weligama.
- Favorite home-stay place: Ayubowan Homestay Katunayake (very close to the Colombo Airport)
- Favorite car-rental agency: "rent a private driver in sri lanka".
Here I share just a very few of our photos, taken this summer during the trip.
Special thanks to our car-rental service; highly recommended!
------------------------------------------------
And finally the round-up of birds seen. Trip count: 136 species, 44 lifers! 81 checklists added.
With my warmest thanks to eBird for all its help in promoting wildlife conservation and citizen science!
 |
| Yellow line on eBird map superimposed to show general clock-wise loop-itinerary taken, stating and ending at the Colombo airport (top-Left). |
